cummins diesel

[Stranger ranger]

I'm looking to buy a 2004 cummins diesel dodge pickup. I'm curious to see how the fuel mileage is on these. I've heard cummins get pretty good mileage and have also heard that they dont Can someone enlighten me on this i'm not a diesel man but I would like to be and around where I live, fuel isnt much more than gasoline so whats the difference, i'll spend an extra 40 cents for diesel.

anyways the truck is a 4 door short bed 2500, 5.9 cummins with the six speed. Any and all info will be appreciated, thanks.

 

[pickup]

There is a difference in the year, there is '04 and '04.5. A lil more power and a few other minor changes. Lots of power, but you wont get the mileage of the earlier ones. Fuel mileage should sit about 18 mpg US.
Smarty makes about the best programmer out right now, you can set parameters for just about everything individually.
Check out www.turbodieselregister.com Lots of good info.
I own Solid Steel Ind. talked about on there.
We're runnin an '04.5 srw 1 ton @ 20 Imp mpg. Well, at least we WERE! until my brother decided to make a racetruck out of it. Twin turbos, 740 hp-1450 ft/lbs torque....We'll see now!

 

[Stranger ranger]

thanks alot

 

[metalmacguyver]

Twin turbos, 740 hp-1450 ft/lbs torque....We'll see now!

Now.

 

[Will]

A guy I used to go wheeling with had a '94 2500 ext. cab. It was stock except for a straight pipe and had a little larger tires. He said he got 16 on the highway. It was a 5-speed.

 

[Stranger ranger]

does anyone know how to tell whether or not its a 2004 or 2004.5?

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I have no idea what the cuttoff for the 2004 and a 2004.5 Cummins differences, but most vehicles have the month and year they were made on the sticker on the doorjamb.

The earlier it was made the more like it is to be an early 2004.

 

[JohnnyU]

I own a 2004.5 CTD. I get about 16-17 in town, and about 18-19 on the highway if I drop my speed down a bit. Mine's a 4sp auto with 4.10 gears. I would suggest steering away from the 4.10's, the RPM's are just a bit too high on the highway. 3.73's are better suited to the overdrive ratio and tire size.

If the truck was built after Jan 1 2004, it is an 04.5. The engine vin code would be C for a 2004.5 with the 325hp/600ftlb engine, and an 8 if it is the 2004 with the 305hp/555ftlb engine.

www.CumminsForum.com also has a lot of good information.

 

[pickup]

Now.

The truck is in Oregon at Source Automotive gettin dual inj pumps, twin turbos, and some tranny work. Hopin to get the 8500 lb truck into the 12 sec range. I'll post pics and dyno sheet when it gets home in a couple weeks.

 

[Hahnsb2]

I'd honestly go for a 12 valve if you want fuel economy, they're also cheaper and more reliable. Also cheaper to get more power out of. My friends 1st gen 2wd auto with a straight pipe pulled 23.8MPG on a trip from Astoria to Newport and back to Astoria, it gets 18.5 MPG mixed average, 15MPG towing a 6000LB trailer. My dads friends 1st gen 4x4 5 speed gets 22 freeway and 20MPG freeway towing a large car trailer with a heavy car (61 T-bird) on it, my dad actually hand calculated it.

We're runnin an '04.5 srw 1 ton @ 20 Imp mpg. Well, at least we WERE! until my brother decided to make a racetruck out of it. Twin turbos, 740 hp-1450 ft/lbs torque....We'll see now!

I've heard of a number of 12 valves pushing 700HP with twins that still get 20MPG freeway... I'm not a big Banks fan but their sidewinder truck (Dakota with common rail 24 valve) gets 21MPG and it's at 730HP too.
Dual CP3s sounds pretty sick though

 

[mountainkowboy]

My 97 is a non-computered 12 valve, with 350hp an 650tq, I have a NP4500 trans since the auto was a POS and 3.73 gears. I get 22mpg on the highway consistant and 17mpg around town. Towing a 6 ton 5th wheel I avg 16mpg.

 

[Stranger ranger]

3D7KU28C14G119982
thats the vin. Is the the 325, 600?

 

[Simple_serf]

I wouldn't even bother...I don't care too much for the cummins in the dodge trucks after the 12 valve. I've seen the price on those damn fuel pumps.

 

[JohnnyU]

3D7KU28C14G119982
thats the vin. Is the the 325, 600?

The "C" in the 8th place of the vin indicates to me that it has the 325/600. What's the build date, do you know?

I've driven one of them all, from the 1st gen 12 valve, a second gen 12 valve, 2nd gen 24 valve, 3rd gen (both the 305 and the 325) and an 08 with the 6.7. Out of all of them, I still like my 04.5 the best. The interior, the cab size, the visibility, looks, engine/performance, everything comes together nicely in that truck.

Good luck with it!

 

[Stranger ranger]

build date johnny was october 03 i believe, which i didnt find out till about a half hour ago. thanks tho, must be the 305